Preseason Update #2

[written by Zahid Merchant]

With less than a month left till 2019 Opening day, we are finalizing some of the details on the season. Here are a couple reminders of the standards in our league and some changes that you should be aware of. 

 

1. BSL Rules have been updated on our website.

There are a couple slight rule modifications that you should be aware of from previous seasons. We are attempting to make the games longer and quicker game play. If these changes don't work, we may revisit them midseason. Changes have been highlighted in bold @ http://www.brotherhoodsoftball.com/?p=rules

- No new inning shall start after one hour and twenty minutes (previously one hour fifteen minutes)

- If time is running short, the umpire will announce time left before cut off. If the visiting team is trailing and allows the home team to bat and time runs out during their at-bats, those runs and at bats will count towards stats and run differential.

- If a game runs for one hour and thirty minutes based on the umpires clock/judgement, the game will be considered complete and the last completed inning will be considered the final score.

- Pitchers must make an attempt to pitch to all batters.  For clarity, a pitcher may not throw a pitch that is blatantly unhittable because the pitch is a considerable distance away from the home plate mat. Any unusual pitches deemed by the umpire to be suspicious will result in a warning. A second warning will result in an ejection of the pitcher and the pitcher may be subject to additional penalties by the Board of Directors, including suspension or fine. 

- Anticipation is acceptable but lead-off is forbidden. Runner(s) may leave a base only when the ball makes contact with the bat, plate or ground.  Any player that leaves a base before the ball makes contact will be called out by the umpire.

 

2. Criteria for Brotherhood Award: 

The Brotherhood award is the most prestigious award in our league.  It is an award that recognizes a player who has upheld an exemplary code of conduct based on Islamic principles and has shown selfless dedication in working towards the betterment of Brotherhood Softball League. 

The winner of the award will have the following year’s league fees paid for them. The Board, GMs and Discipline committee will involved in the voting process. 

 
The following is the criteria used to determine the candidates:  

A.     This person has upheld Islamic etiquette during and after games as well as other league activities.  

B.     This person has demonstrated respect for teammates, opponents and league officials regardless of the game’s outcome.

C.     This person has been known to have always maintained a positive attitude even when mistakes or errors were committed on the field.  

D.     This person has been an active participant in the league by volunteering assistance throughout the season.

 

3. Scorekeeping ground rules: 

The competition committee has come up with a critieria to clarify the decision-making for errors and hits. This should create more consistency in scorekeeping and more clarity. 

If a ball is mishandled on a routine play as judged by the scorer, an error will be charged.   Another player may not influence the decision of the scorekeeper.  If the scorekeeper is unsure of a call between an error or hit, a hit will be awarded. 

An error WILL BE charged under following conditions:
1-  If a ground ball or a soft line drive is directly hit to the infielder and is misplayed by the fielder.  The fielder has planted both feet when the ball arrives or has taken fewer than 3 steps towards the ball.  

2-  If a ground ball or a soft line drive is handled properly but then thrown away from first base (or other bases) or dropped by the fielder receiving the throw. 

3- If an outfielder mishandles a ground ball and/or it passes under his glove allowing the runner to take another base - runner will only be awarded a single.  Similarly, if a runner takes an extra base on a bad throw, a double or triple will not be awarded.   

4- If a routine fly ball is mishandled or dropped by the fielder. The fielder must have had both feet planted at the time of catch, or takes fewer than 5 steps towards the ball.

An error will NOT be charged in the following circumstances:

5- If a fielder has to make a sudden movement towards the ball, even if ball hits a part of the glove or player.

6- If a ball is hit exceptionally hard directly towards an infielder and the ball is misplayed.  

7- If a throw is made but runner beats out the throw then an error will not be charged

8- If an outfielder drops a ball while making contact with the fence.  

9- As previously mentioned, if a fielder has to take more than 5 steps to catch a pop fly and both feet are not firmly planted. 
 

We will be providing more preseason updates in the coming weeks. Stay tuned. 

BSL

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